Integrated multi-component travel and backpack

ABSTRACT

An integrated connection system combines disparate bags into one wearable unit. The system allows users maximum flexibility concerning capacity and configuration during travel. The system, configured as a backpack, allows users significant freedom of movement. The system can integrate a main backpack, a duffel bag, a laundry bag and a garment bag in a single, wearable system. The system can be used as one complete integrated system or the components can be used separately. The main backpack can be used to store valuables and for specific excursions; the duffel can be used to provide capacity to detach to store a traveler&#39;s bulk load in any given secure location; the garment bag can be removed and hung in a closet; and the laundry bag can be detached to carry cloths to be cleaned, for example.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/609,809, filed Mar. 12, 2012, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to travel/adventure packs and, moreparticularly, to an integrated travel/adventure backpack which conformsto the user's needs for capacity and flexibility.

Many travelers, faced today with increasing baggage fees and the fear oflost luggage, choose to carry their baggage with them. Similarly, manytravelers, because they do not have a place to keep their baggage or forsecurity reasons (such as when staying at Hostels with no secure placeto store belongings), prefer to carry their belongings with them.

This, however, can become cumbersome, as there is often a need for aplace to keep clean clothes, a place for dirty clothes, a place for moreformal clothes, and the like. Many travelers can be seen carryingmultiple bags through an airport, for example. Often, they arehaphazardly strapped together, often with one bag on wheels and theother bags attached. While this configuration can work, but all toooften, one bag shifts, requiring the traveler to stop and repositiontheir bags.

As can be seen, there is a need for an integrated backpack system havingmultiple packs that connect together in a stable, easy to useconfiguration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an integrated baggage systemcomprises a main backpack portion operable to be worn on a user's back;a duffel portion removably attached to the main backpack portion at atop, bottom and each side of the main backpack portion; wherein theduffel portion includes a plurality V-flaps, each containing a first setof connectors, wherein each of the first set of connectors are adaptedto connect to a plurality of second sets of connectors disposed on themain backpack portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, an integrated baggage systemcomprises a main backpack portion operable to be worn on a user's back;a duffel portion removably attached to the main backpack portion at atop, bottom and each side of the main backpack portion; a laundry bagextendable from a pocket formed in a side portion of the duffel portion,the laundry bag extendable over a front portion of the duffel portionand attachable to an opposite side portion of the duffel portion; agarment bag removably disposed in an expandable garment sleeve pocketdisposed on a front portion of the duffel portion; and stabilizer strapsextending from a back portion of the duffel portion and operable tosecure to the main backpack portion, wherein the duffel portion includesa plurality V-flaps, each containing a first set of connectors, whereineach of the first set of connectors are adapted to connect to aplurality of second sets of connectors disposed on the main backpackportion.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a backpack portion of an integrated packaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the backpack portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the backpack portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the backpack portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the backpack portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the backpack portion of FIG. 1 attached to aduffel portion of the integrated pack of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the duffel portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the duffel portion attached to the backpackportion;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the duffel portion attached to the backpackportion;

FIG. 10 right side view of the duffel portion of the integrated pack;

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the duffel portion of the integratedpack;

FIG. 12 is a back view of the duffel portion of the integrated pack;

FIG. 13 is a right side view of the duffel portion of the integratedpack, showing a laundry bag extended therefrom;

FIG. 14 is a back view of a garment sleeve disposable in the duffelportion of the integrated pack; and

FIG. 15 is a front view of the garment sleeve of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an integratedconnection system that combines disparate bags into one wearable unit.The system allows users maximum flexibility concerning capacity andconfiguration during travel. The system, configured as a backpack,allows users significant freedom of movement. The system can integrate amain backpack, a duffel bag, a laundry bag and a garment bag in asingle, wearable system. The system can be used as one completeintegrated system or the components can be used separately. The mainbackpack can be used to store valuables and for specific excursions; theduffel can be used to provide capacity to detach to store a traveler'sbulk load in any given secure location; the garment bag can be removedand hung in a closet; and the laundry bag can be detached to carrycloths to be cleaned, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, a main backpack portion 10 of theintegrated backpack system of the present invention, includes a mainbody 12 defining an main interior section of the main backpack portion10. The main body 12 can be made of a front portion 14, side portions 16and a back portion 18. The side portions 16 can include one or more meshpockets 20 with elastic binding 22 as an exterior storage pocket. Themesh pockets 20 can be from about 4 to about 8 inches high, typicallyabout 6 inches high along the side portions 16. Lash tabs 24 can bedisposed on an upper part of the side portions 16. The lash tabs 24 canbe, for example, sized for 1-inch webbing. A main zipper 26 can bedisposed along the side portions 16 and a top portion 28 of the mainbody 12 to allow access inside the main body 12. A grab handle 40 canextend from the top portion 28. Female buckles 58 can be disposed oneach of the side portions 16, disposed along a seam formed between theside portions 16 and the back portion 18.

The front portion 14 can include a first front zipper 30 to provideaccess to the interior of the main body 12. A second front zipper 32 canprovide access to a flat front pocket formed in the main body 12. Aplurality of gear loops 36 can be disposed from elastic webbing forsecuring gear thereto. Reflective piping 38 can be disposed along thefront portion 14 in various configurations.

The back portion 18 can include shoulder straps 42 extending from a topend to a bottom end of the back portion 18. The shoulder straps 42 caninclude padding for user comfort. The shoulder straps 42 can connect toa include a ladderlock 44 to provide a length adjustment for theshoulder straps 42. The shoulder strap 42 can be made of, for example,19″ long by 2.5 inch wide padded webbing 46 that is connected to 1-inchwebbing 47 via the ladderlock 44. A male buckle 48 and a female buckle50 can be attached to the padded webbing 46. An optional cell phonepocket 52 can be provided along the padded webbing 46. A waist belt 53can be operable to removably and adjustably attach around a user'swaist.

The back portion 18 can include raised airmesh panels 54 formed with,for example, 1.5-2 cm closed cell foam. The raised panels 54 can provideuser comfort. Typically, two panels 54 are disposed adjacent to eachother, forming an air channel 56 therebetween.

A plastic panel, such as a polyethylene panel, (not shown) can bedisposed under the back portion 18 for structural support. In someembodiments, a zipper can be disposed in the top of the lining of theback portion 18 to allow a user to insert and remove the plastic panelas desired.

The top panel 28, as shown in FIG. 4, can include two female buckles 60,typically centered and spaced apart by about 3 to 5 inches. A bottompanel 62, as shown in FIG. 5, can include two female buckles 64. FIG. 5also shows a V-flap of a duffel portion, as described in greater detailbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 12, a duffel portion 66 can include aduffel main body 68 having a left side 70, a right side 72, a topportion 74, a bottom portion 76, a front side 78 and a back side 80. Theduffel portion 66 can attach securely to the main backpack portion 10 ofthe integrated backpack system of the present invention.

Side V-flaps 82 can be disposed inside a zippered pocket 84 on each sideof the back portion 80 of the duffel portion 66. The side V-flaps 82 canbe extended out of the zippered pocket 84 and can include male buckles86 operable to removably engage with the female buckles 58 on the sidesof the main backpack portion 10.

Stabilizer straps 88 can be disposed inside a zipper pocket 90 on theback portion 80 of the duffel portion 66. The stabilizer straps 88 canwrap around the backpack portion 10, from top to bottom, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. The stabilizer straps 88 can include an adjustmentmechanism to permit cinching the straps 88 securely. The stabilizerstraps 88 can connect to the male buckle 48 and the female buckle 50 onthe shoulder straps 46.

A top V-flap 92 may be disposed inside the zippered pocket 90. A bottomV-flap 94 may be disposed inside the zippered pocket 96. The distancebetween the zippered pocket 90 and the zippered pocket 94 may beapproximate the same as the height of the main backpack portion 10. TheV-flaps 92, 94 can include male buckles 98 that can secure to the femalebuckles 60, 64 on the top panel 28 and bottom panel 62 of the mainbackpack portion 10.

The top portion 74 can include an access flap 98 having a zipper 100 toopen and close. The access flap 98 can provide access inside the duffel.A handle 102 can be attached to the top portion 74. Similarly, a handle104 can be attached to the bottom portion 76. The handles 102, 104 canbe designed and attached in various manners. For example, the handles102, 104 can be made of a webbing material wrapped with leather and/orpadding material/fabric. The handles 102, 104 can be attached to theduffel with stitching and reinforces with a rivet, for example.

The front portion 78 of the duffel can include a zipper 106 to access aflap zip pocket formed in the front portion 78. A garment sleeve pocket108 can be formed in the front portion 78 and can be sized about 21.5inches by 12 inches by 2 inches deep. The garment sleeve pocket 108 canbe designed to expand by about 3.5 inches deep to accommodate a garmentsleeve, as described below.

A main zipper 110 can provide access to the inside of the duffel.Typically, the main zipper 110 can extend at least around three sides ofthe duffel. Pocket piping 112 can be included about the garment sleevepocket 108. Duffel piping 114 can be included about the perimeter of theduffel.

Referring now to FIGS. 10, 11 and 13, the left side 70 of the duffel caninclude male buckles 116 attached thereto. The buckles 116 can beattached with an adjustable webbing 124, for example. The right size 72of the duffel can include a zip pocket 118 containing a laundry bag 120(see FIG. 13) disposed therein. The laundry bag 120 can include a seal,such as a zipper 122 to keep contents contained therein. The laundry bag120 can include female buckles 126 disposed on a distal end thereof suchthat the laundry bag 120 can extend from the zip pocket 118, extendaround the front of the duffel and be secured by attaching the femalebuckles 126 and the male buckles 116 together. The end opposite thefemale buckles 126 can be removable secured to the inside of the zippocket 118 by various means to allow removal of the laundry bag 120. Insome embodiments, the laundry bag can be fixed to the inside of the zippocket 118.

Hook and loop patches 128 can be sewn inside the zip pocket 118 topermit closure of the zip pocket 118 when the laundry bag 120 is extendout of the zip pocket 118.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, a garment bag 130 can be included inthe integrated backpack system of the present invention. The garment bagcan include a lightweight frame or sheeting 132 disposed in the lowerthird thereof to provide rigidity for folding the garment bag 130 forstorage in the garment sleeve pocket 108. A seam 134 can keep theframe/sheeting 132 in place. The garment bag can include a zipper 136for access.

The garment bag 130 can include webbing 138 with snaps 140, or the like,to secure with a mating fastener 142 disposed about two-thirds down thegarment bag 130. Like typical garment bags, the garment bag 130 of thepresent invention can have an opening 144 at a top portion to allowhangers to pass through as well as pleated sides 146 for expansion.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated baggage system comprising: a mainbackpack portion operable to be worn on a user's back; a duffel portionremovably attached to the main backpack portion at a top, bottom andeach side of the main backpack portion; wherein the duffel portionincludes a plurality V-flaps, each containing a first set of connectors,wherein each of the first set of connectors are adapted to connect to aplurality of second sets of connectors disposed on the main backpackportion.
 2. The integrated baggage system of claim 1, further comprisinga laundry bag extendable from a pocket formed in a side portion of theduffel portion, the laundry bag extendable over a front portion of theduffel portion and attachable to an opposite side portion of the duffelportion.
 3. The integrated baggage system of claim 1, further comprisingconnectors to close the pocket after the laundry bag is removedtherefrom.
 4. The integrated baggage system of claim 1, furthercomprising a garment bag removably disposed in an expandable garmentsleeve pocket disposed on a front portion of the duffel portion.
 5. Theintegrated baggage system of claim 1, wherein the first set ofconnectors and the second set of connectors are mating buckles.
 6. Theintegrated baggage system of claim 1, further comprising stabilizerstraps extending from a back portion of the duffel portion and operableto loop around the main backpack portion.
 7. The integrated baggagesystem of claim 1, further comprising a waist belt attached to the mainbackpack portion, the waist belt operable to loop around a torso of auser.
 8. An integrated baggage system comprising: a main backpackportion operable to be worn on a user's back; a duffel portion removablyattached to the main backpack portion at a top, bottom and each side ofthe main backpack portion; a laundry bag extendable from a pocket formedin a side portion of the duffel portion, the laundry bag extendable overa front portion of the duffel portion and attachable to an opposite sideportion of the duffel portion; a garment bag removably disposed in anexpandable garment sleeve pocket disposed on a front portion of theduffel portion; and stabilizer straps extending from a back portion ofthe duffel portion and operable to secure to the main backpack portion,wherein the duffel portion includes a plurality V-flaps, each containinga first set of connectors, wherein each of the first set of connectorsare adapted to connect to a plurality of second sets of connectorsdisposed on the main backpack portion.
 9. The integrated baggage systemof claim 8, wherein the first set of connectors and the second set ofconnectors are mating buckles.
 10. The integrated baggage system ofclaim 8, further comprising a waist strap attached to the main backpackportion, the waist belt operable to loop around a torso of a user. 11.The integrated baggage system of claim 8, further comprising shoulderstraps operable to allow a user to carry the main backpack portion ontheir back.